"Helena, allow the lady Lorena to stand on her feet!" Signora Pallas scolded the little girl clinging onto Lorena's body. She sighed and picked her up when she refused to move."I want Lowena!" The little girl kicked defiantly in her arms.Lorena laughed, slowly standing up from the bed she had been stuck in for the past week. She couldn't wait to finally leave the clinic and the smell of sickness in the air. "See, Signora. I'm stronger now." She said, bouncing on both feet without holding on to anything."I'm proud of you, Lorena," She replied over her shoulders as Helena kicked and screamed in her arms. "Be still a child!" She said, trying to soothe her, but she didn't want to listen."Hand her over," Lorena said, opening her hands."Are you sure? Do you think you're strong enough to carry her?" She asked."I'm sure," Lorena smiled. "There you are," She said, wrapping her hands tightly around her. Immediately Signora Pallas haded Helena over to her. "Did you miss me that much?" She
"Where is Lorena?" Paolo Cicero screamed, frightening the children around. The two bodyguards he came with, dripped in all black, walked around trying to find her. He looked everywhere, barely recognizing the place. The last time he had been here, it was to warn the lady Pallas to stay away from his wife. It was ironic that he was back here again but for his child this time."You?" He pointed at a little boy holding a ball. "Where is Lorena?" His voice was booming, causing the little boy to shudder in fright. This only made Paolo grow even more impatient. "Don't you have a voice?" He stepped forward when a door pushed open, and a woman came out. He turned around and saw the lady Pallas staring straight at him."Bastard!" She muttered under her breath before smiling as she approached his presence. "Paolo! It's so great to have you visit us today." She said."Where is Lorena?" He replied, not playing her stupid games. It was apparent she wanted to act all cool in the presence of the chi
"Madam Sapphire," Signora Pallas walked past Paolo towards her. "Ignore whatever you've heard, and let's chat in my office." She smiled."Unfortunately, I can't do that," She returned her smile, then turned to Lorena. "Is it true, Lorena? Are you pregnant for Markris?" Lorena scrunched her face, wondering why she was so concerned. She had met the woman just once. So what if she was the anonymous donor for the orphanage clinic? It still didn't give her the right to ask her such personal questions. She noticed everyone's attention was on her, except for her father, who stood rooted to a spot. His eyes were wide, and the color on his face was gone as he stared at Madam Sapphire. She had never known her father to be that quiet. Almost as if he had seen a ghost. "Lorena?" Madam Sapphire called, snapping her out of her observation."It's all just a big misunderstanding. I can...""It's true.." Alonso said, interrupting her."Alonso, stop it!" She seethed, throwing him a sharp look."What ar
Lorena rolled to the edge of the bed and was about to fall off when her eyes pushed open. She quickly moved into the bed again and shut her eyes tight."Let's try that again," She muttered, slowly opening her eyes. She sat up, yawned, and stretched until she felt a crack. "That's right." She smiled, pushing the covers that were caught between her legs.She got off the bed and stood in the center of the room. Spreading her arms, she raised her head and inhaled deeply. The smell of lemon, coupled with the airy freshness the breeze coming from the window offered, pleased her nose. She was not snobbish, but the contrast between one of Alonso's bedrooms and the tiny space she slept in at the orphanage was dark and gloomy. The children were the only sunshine that made it worth living. She dropped her hands and looked around for her phone. She paused when she realized the last time she had been on the device was in the clinic, which only meant it was with Signora Pallas."No phones?" Her fi
At exactly 6:30 pm, a car drove into Alonso's mansion. A woman stepped down and was shown into the house by the driver ordered to pick her up. The further she went, the more complicated her heartbeat pounded in her chest. The odd number, who had spent the last month texting her about Job connections, had finally gotten a hold of her. She could have sworn with everything in her he was a scammer, until today when he insisted her lady Lorena needed a dress. Everyone knew anything Lady Lorena wanted. She had to get. For one, there was no more friendly person than her, and two. Everyone was so worried about her.She stared at the bagged dress in her hands and bit her lips nervously. After Lorena had worn one of her dresses, she had gone out of her way to create another. She just needed the right time to gift it to her, and it looked like it was now. They climbed upstairs, and she took that opportunity to take in her surrounding. The house was not as big as Master Markris, but it had a sm
Lorena looked away from Markris as she took the last steps down. An usher was immediately by her side to escort her to her seat. She prayed silently she didn't have to sit next to Markris. Fortunately for her, she was shown a seat far across from him. As soon as she sat, the murmurs began. From how their eyes searched her face, looking for discomfort, she knew they were talking about her. The runaway bride was finally in the presence of her jilted groom. There couldn't be a juicier story."Now that the lovely lady Lorena has joined us, we can continue." She heard a familiar voice say. She looked up and saw it was Tim. He threw her a wink, and her face flushed. She turned around just in time to see Markris staring at her from across the room. Judging from the scowl on his face, he had seen the exchange between herself and Tim.She shrugged and turned her attention away from him. She could care less what anyone, most especially Markris thought of her. Her eyes caught Alonso's, and he w
"Markris!" Lorena called loudly, following behind him. "Slow down. I need to talk to you." Her legs caught across her gown, and she stumbled. She caught herself just in time before she fell face down.She looked ahead and realized he wasn't going back to the hall but instead was going out. She took a turn and finally caught up with him."What do you want, Lorena?" His voice was harsh as he stared daggers at her."I just want to talk." She breathed loudly, trying to catch her breath."About?" His face contorted as he wondered what gave her the right to think she could talk to him."What do you mean?" She said, finally able to breathe correctly."What do you mean by what do you mean? We said everything that we needed to say to each other when you left them on the altar like the coward you are. Just get out of my face Lorena!" His eyes burned with anger. She shuddered, taking a step back."This is exactly the attitude that made me leave. You don't listen to anyone but yourself!" She trie
Lorena twisted and turned, beads of sweat dripping from her face. Her body contorted in the most bizarre position, and her hands grabbed the sheets. This was her third time running around, only to end up in the same position she started from. It took the fourth trip around the strange place for her to realize she was stuck in a maze. It was dark, the only light source from the shy moon and rebellious stars in the sky. A single bird suddenly flew overhead, chirping like it was trying to pass a message. She stretched her ears to listen, hoping it would give her the answer to break free from the maze finally. Just as she caught on to its first words, an enormous bird swooped in from nowhere and grabbed the smaller bird with its mouth. A loud gasp escaped her throat as she watched the enormous bird fly away with the little bird. Suddenly, she felt the maze walls closing in on her, and she couldn't breathe. She grabbed her throat, gasping for air. Her eyes rolled to her back, and she fel